Cell search procedure

During the cell search, the UE searches for a cell and determines the downlink
scrambling code and frame synchronisation of that cell. The cell search is
typically carried out in three steps:

Step 1: Slot synchronisation

During the first step of the cell search procedure the UE uses the SCH's
primary synchronisation code to acquire slot synchronisation to a cell. This is
typically done with a single matched filter (or any similar device) matched to
the primary synchronisation code which is common to all cells. The slot timing
of the cell can be obtained by detecting peaks in the matched filter output.

Step 2: Frame synchronisation and code-group identification

During the second step of the cell search procedure, the UE uses the SCH's
secondary synchronisation code to find frame synchronisation and identify the
code group of the cell found in the first step. This is done by correlating the
received signal with all possible secondary synchronisation code sequences,
and identifying the maximum correlation value. Since the cyclic shifts of the
sequences are unique the code group as well as the frame synchronisation is
determined.

Step 3: Scrambling-code identification

During the third and last step of the cell search procedure, the UE determines
the exact primary scrambling code used by the found cell. The primary
scrambling code is typically identified through symbol-by-symbol correlation
over the CPICH with all codes within the code group identified in the second
step. After the primary scrambling code has been identified, the Primary
CCPCH can be detected and the system- and cell specific BCH information can
be read.
If the UE has received information about which scrambling codes to search for,
steps 2 and 3 above can be simplified
 Structure of synchronization channel

The Synchronisation Channel (SCH) is a downlink signal used for cell search.
The SCH consists of two sub channels, the Primary and Secondary SCH. The
10 ms radio frames of the Primary and Secondary SCH are divided into 15
slots, each of length 2560 chips. Picture above illustrates the structure of the
SCH radio frame.

The Primary SCH consists of a modulated code of length 256 chips, the
primary synchronization code (PSC) is transmitted once every slot. The PSC is
the same for every cell in the system.

The Secondary SCH consists of repeatedly transmitting a length 15 sequence

of modulated codes of length 256 chips, the Secondary Synchronisation Codes
(SSC), transmitted in parallel with the Primary SCH. The SSC is denoted csi,k in
figure 20, where i = 0, 1, …, 63 is the number of the scrambling code group,
and k = 0, 1, …, 14 is the slot number. Each SSC is chosen from a set of 16
different codes of length 256. This sequence on the Secondary SCH indicates
which of the code groups the cell's downlink scrambling code belongs to.

Summary of the process:

Synchronisation
Channel Note
acquired
Primary Chip, Slot, Symbol 256 chips
SCH Synchronisation The same in all cells
Secondary Frame Synchronisation, 15-code sequence of secondary synchronisation
SCH Code Group (one of 64) codes.
There are 16 secondary synchronisation codes.
 There are 64 S-SCH sequences corresponding to
the 64 scrambling code groups
256 chips, different for different cells and slot
intervals
Common Pilot Scrambling code To find the primary scrambling code from
CH (one of 8) common pilot CH
Super Frame Fixed 30 kbps channel
PCCPCH *) Synchronisation, 27 kbps rate
BCCH info spreading factor 256
Carries FACH and PCH channels
SCCPCH **)
Variable bit rate

*) Primary Common Control Physical Channel

**) Secondary Common Control Physical Channel